A List of Bait for Fishing Crappie

Fishing for crappies can be fun and exciting. They are a small species but they can put up a good struggle so they are the prefect species for both beginners and experienced anglers. You can find this species in ponds, lakes, rivers and reservoirs. They may be more abundant in the northern states but you can find them anywhere.

There are several things that you should be aware of when selecting the bait to use for crappie fishing. First of all, the crappie is a small species so you need bait that fits their size. If you use bait that is too large they will ignore it and move on to something else. Another thing about the crappie is the fact that they have a thin fragile mouth. For this reason you must be careful when setting the hook.

It's hard to feel when they actually take the bait and many anglers tend to jerk when they think they're getting a bite. This will pull the hook completely through their mouth and you will lose the catch. The best advice is to use a quick snap of wrist to set the hook and then you can reel him on in.

Choosing the right bait can be a little frustrating because this species can be picky. However, once you know what they like you can usually do a little experimenting and find what works the best each time you go out. Below is a list of bait for fishing crappie that will help you get off to a good start.

Live Baits

Using live bait is the best option in most cases. When using live bait it's important that you keep it fresh by keeping it in a cooler or in the bait-well if you're on a boat. The fresher the bait the better results you will enjoy. Crappies usually won't strike at old bait but fortunately they are attracted to several different types of live baits such as the ones listed here:

Minnows
Worms
Grasshoppers
Bugs
Crickets
Crawdads
Frogs

If you're catching your own live bait, then it's suggested that you do so in the same water where you plan to fish. This way you will be using the natural food source of the crappie in that area and you should have better results. They won't strike at anything that appears foreign to them.

If you are not having any luck with the bait you're using check the size, you may need to use something smaller. If that doesn't seem to be the problem then try something different. It may be that the crappie is simply not in the mood for your offering at this time.

Types of Jigs

When using live bait is not an option for you don't worry, there are a variety of jigs that you can choose from. With modern technology many jigs are designed to be so realistic that the fish simply can't tell it apart from the real thing.

There are five main types of jigs used for crappie fishing. They are listed below:

Bucktail Jigs
Tube Jigs
Soft-Plastic Jigs
Standard Jig Head
Horse-Head Jigs with Spinners